Pelosi to call House back into session to approve jobs measure

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she will call the House back into session next week to approve a measure to help states ease their severe budget problems and save the jobs of tens of thousands of teachers and other public employees.

The move by the California Democrat would force lawmakers to interrupt their August recess to speed a $26 billion jobs measure to President Barack Obama’s desk so he can sign it into law before most schools reopen.

The measure cleared a crucial hurdle in the Senate on Wednesday and headed for passage there soon.

The bill would extend programs enacted in last year’s stimulus law to help preserve the jobs of teachers, police officers, firefighters and other public employees.